Obstetrical instrument



Dec. 25, 1956 J, 5, mcz 2,775,241

OBSTETRICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 21, 1955 INVENTOR. J 5. Price Fay. 2 y

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,775,241 OBSTETRICAL INSTRUMENT Joel s. Price,0klah0ma City, Okla. Application February 21, 1955, Serial No. 439,507 Claims. or. 128-352) of the shank. The blades are curved longitudinally to 1 generally conform to the contour of the unborn childs head, and transversely in an attempt to conform to the pelvic curve. In use, the blades are preferably applied to the sides of the childs head and the handle sections are locked; whereupon, traction is applied on the handle to remove the child head-first from the mother.

In the ordinary delivery, the only safe wayto apply the present forceps is to the sides of thechilds head. i In this position of the forceps, the blades extend over each side of the childs head at the points of largestdiameter, thereby materially increasing the largest diameter of the head which must pass through the mothers pelvis. The forceps cannot beutilized to any appreciable degree in turning the child, since they grip the head only by friction and have a tendency to slip unless excessive compressive pressure is imposed on the head. When the head cannot be turned to the most favorable position,*the forceps must be'applied in an unfavorable position, frequently resulting in injury to the child or the mother. The mothers pelvic curve usually prevents application of the forceps i in any position except in a plane substantially transverse or oblique to the pelvis. t

The present invention contemplates a novel obstetrical instrument utilizing a pair of loop-like straps or bands arranged in crossing relation to engage the childs head. One strap is place under the childs jaw; the other strap is placed over the back of the head at the lower end of the skull, and the straps cross on each side of the head at a pointbelow the largest diameter. Therefore, the straps engage the strongest portions of the head to reduce possibility of damage to the child. And since thestraps crossbelow the largest diameter of the head, the greatest diameter which must be passed through the pelvis isnot increased, thereby reducing the possibility of damageto the mothers vaginal tract. Furthermore, the structure facilitates turning of the head by manipulation of the instrument without the straps slipping on the head and without damage to the head. 1

An important object of this invention is to facilitate Another object of this invention is to facilitate the turning of an unborn child by forceps.

A further object of this invention is toreduce deformation of achilds head during delivery, as well as possible injury to the mother.

A still further object of this invention is to provide 2,7 75,241 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 ice simply constructed forceps which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of my novel forceps shown in engaging position on a unborn childs head, wherein the child and mother are shown schematically in dashed lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the forceps.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of one section of the forceps illustrating the flexibility of the straps for facilitating installation and removal of the forceps.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figures 1 and 2, reference character 6 generally designates my novel forceps which have a handle portion 8. The handle 8 is constructed in two sections, a left-hand section 10 (Figure 2) and a right-hand section 12, with any suitable means for locking the sections 10 and 12 together in the positions illustrated in Figure 2. The specific locking mechanism forms no part of the present invention and is, therefore, not shown in detail herein. Any of the several forceps locking mechanisms now in use may be utilized on my forceps.

A retaining block 14 is rigidly secured to each of the handle sections 10 and 12 in any suitable manner, such as by welding, in such a position that the blocks 14 will be disposed in parallel relation upon assembly of the sections 10 and 12. Each block 14 is apertured to slidingly receive a pair of shanks or rods 16 and 17. The shanks are preferably threaded (not shown) on their outer ends to receive nuts 18 which prevent the shanks from being pulled out of the blocks 14 during use of the forceps 6 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

As is most clearly shown in Figure 1, each pair of the shanks 16 and 17 extends forwardly from the respective block 14 and is then bent substantially on the arc of a circle. The upper pair of shanks 16 are bent upwardly away from the lower shanks 17 and then slightly downward. The lower shanks 17 are bent in substantially an opposite manner. In addition, each shank is bent outwardly away from its mating shank as shown in Figure 2 in such a manner that each pair of shanks 16 and 17 diverge away from the respective block 14.

The outer ends 19 of the upper shanks 16 are connected to the opposite ends of a U-shaped strap or band 20 which extends downward at an oblique angle. And the outer ends 22 of the lower shanks 17 are connected to the opposite ends of an upwardly extending U-shaped strap or band 24 which extends through the strap 20. The straps 20 and 24 are preferably formed out of the same material to render them flexible and somewhat pliable to minimize possible injury to the mother or child, yet strong enough to accommodate a substantial tension and torsion. As an example, the straps 20 and 24 may be constructed out of thin spring steel and covered with a rubber or latex material. In any event, the straps must withstand sterilization. Also, the edges of the straps should be rounded and the ends of each strap should be tapered at its connection with the respective shanks to eliminate sharp edges. Furthermore, as it will be observed in Figure l, the strap 20 is longer than the strap 24.

Operation As it is well known in the art of obstetrics, the unborn child 30 may be in any one of various positions in the mother 32 when a forced or mechanical delivery is indicated. For clarifying the illustration of utilizing my forceps 6,I have shown the child 30 in a typical delivery position with its head 34 facing generally downward in a left or right occiput anterior position, and within the pelvic structure 36 of the mother 32.

In using my forceps 6, the handie 3 is separated and the strap 24 is taken out of the strap 2%. The strap 20 is then compressed to a smaller diameter by the user, as illustrated by the dash lines in Figure 3, and inserted in the vagina 38 with the central portion 40 entering first During the insertion of the strap 21), the portion 40 is guided over the face of the child 30 to a position under its chin; whereupon, the strap 29 is released to expand and is pivoted upwardly (with the portion 46 as the pivot point) until the strap 20 lies on opposite sides of 'the head 34 as illustrated in Figure l. The strap 24 is then compressed in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed for the strap 20 and inserted through the strap 20, into the vagina 38 and around the back of the head 34 into the position shown in Figure l. The strap 20 may be expanded as shown by the dotted lines in Figure '3 to facilitate the positioning of the strap 24 if desired or necessary. Inasmuch as each delivery is at least slightly different from other deliveries, the precise manipulation of the straps 20 and 24 in positioning the straps on the head 34 will have to be varied for the particular case.

The handle sections and 12 are then brought into a'lo'cked relation to completely assemble the forceps'6 in operating position, as illustrated in Figure 1. The user can then pull outwardly on the handl'e'8 to easily extract the child 30. When traction is applied, the force on the childs head 34 is imposed at twoof the strongest points, that is, the chin and the thick 'base portion of the skull, thereby minimizing possible injury to the child. It will be observed that the force imposed on the lower portion of the head 34 (by the portion 40 of the strap 20') originates above (upper block 14) the origin (lower block 14) of the force imposed on the highest portion of the head (through strap 24). This arrangement, in con junction with the crossed relation of the straps 20 and 24, results in the imposition of oblique forces on the childs jaw and base of the'skull. Therefore, the portions 40 and'42 of the straps 20 and 24 will be firmly held on the head 34 during traction to prevent slipping of the instrument 6. It should also be noted that the head 34 may be flexed or extended on the child 30 by pulling out and down, or out and up on the handle 8. In traction, flection and extension manipulations of the head 34, substantially no compression is applied, as is necessary in present day forceps.

The forceps 6 may also be used for turning the child 30. In turning, the upper shanks 16 are preferably moved or squeezed toward each other to slightly compress the strap 20. And the lower shanks 17 are similarly moved to compress the strap 24, thereby applying a slight compression on the head 34 to prevent any possible slipping of the straps. However, the compression required is not suflicient to be harmful to the child.

It will be observed in Figure 1 that the straps'2t) and 24 cross at a point below the largest diameter of the head 30. Therefore, the largestdiameter passing through the pelvic structure 36 and vagina 38 will not be greater than during a normal birth. The thickness of the straps 20 and 24'are retained at a minimum, yet provide the necessary tensile strength. Furthermore, the central portion '40 of the strap 20 and the central portion 42 of the strap 24 may be molded or formed to conform to theappropriate contour of the childs head 34. It will also'be observed that the length "of the shanks 16 and 1'7 may be varied As previously noted, the position of the child 30, as shown in the drawings, is exemplary only and should not be understood as the only position Where the present invention may be utilized. Inasmuch as the forceps 6 may be readily used for turning the child 30, they may be applied with the head 34 in substantially any accessible position. During the delivery, the head 34 may be turned to the most appropriate direction indicated for the particular case.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides novel forceps for facilitating and promoting the safety of mechanically delivering children. The childs head is engaged at its strongest points and the traction may be increased over present applications without deforming the head. The present invention may be utilized for turning the unborn child, and the largest diameter of the head of the foetus will not be increased, thereby minimizing injury to the mother. My forceps are simple in construction and may be economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that modi 'fications of the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An obstetrical instrument comprising a sectional handle, two pairs of resilient shanks extending forwardly from said handle, and a U-shaped resilient strap secured to each pair of shanks, said shanks being formed to extend said straps in crossing relation.

2. An obstetrical instrument comprising a pair of shanks having inner ends and outer ends and being'bent on the are of a circle to direct said inner ends downwardly, a U-shaped strap secured to said inner ends,'a second pair of shanks having inner ends and outer ends and being bent on the arc of a circle in a direction opposite to the first-mentioned direction to direct the inner'ends thereof'upwa-rdly, a U-shaped strap secured to the last-mentioned inner ends in a direction to extend through the first-mentioned U-shaped strap, and means on the outer ends of said shanks to facilitate a manual gripping thereof.

3. An obstetrical instrument comprising a U-shaped 'sf'rap, the end portions of said strap being bent downwardly on the arc of a circle, a second U-shaped strap of a size to be inserted through the first-mentioned strap, the outer end portions of said second strap being bent upwardly, and handles on the outer ends of said-straps.

back of-the' head and extend over the sides of the head incrossihg relation to the first-mentioned strap, curved shanks on the outer ends of said second strap, andhandle means on the outer ends of said shanks.

5. An obstetrical instrument for engaging the head of an unborn child, comprising a U-shaped strap of a size to extend under the childs chin and over the sides of the head, a second U- shaped strap of a size toextend around the back of the head and around the'sides ofthe'head in crossing relation to the first-mentioned strap, said "straps being arranged to cross below the largest portion "ofthe head,and means for locking the outer ends of said straps, whereby said'straps may be retained in 'crossin'g relation on the childs head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l l l 1 

